Why I Stopped Using Mulch and Switched to Permanent Brick Borders

Common Mistakes I’d Avoid If I Did It Again

I’d never skip base prep

One short section in my backyard got the lazy version of prep.
Guess which section shifted first.

Uneven settling makes even beautiful edging bricks look cheap.
That one lesson cured me of cutting corners.

I’d think more about height and spacing

Some borders look awkward because they sit too high.
Others disappear because they’re too low to do any real visual work.

I’d also give plants more room from day one.
A too-tight raised bed border or flower bed edge gets crowded fast once shrubs mature.

I’d plan for drainage and mowing

Water needs somewhere to go.
If you trap runoff or pile soil too high behind the border, you’ll create trouble.

I’d also test mower wheel clearance before final placement.
A border that looks good but fights every mow is not actually low maintenance.

One more thing I’d do differently?
I’d be more selective from the start about where mulch still belongs.

Hit the next button below, because I didn’t ban mulch from my yard completely.